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Buddy the dog back with owner after stolen truck is found, suspect arrested

Buddy's family parked the 2016 red Toyota Tacoma pickup near Interstate 70 and Kipling Street, with him inside, said Wheat Ridge Police.

WHEAT RIDGE, Colo. — A dog that was stolen Thursday, along with his family's truck, is back with his family after both were located in Arapahoe County, the Wheat Ridge Police Department (WRPD) said on Friday.

The owner had parked the family truck on Thursday near Interstate 70 and Kipling Street and soon after realized that the 2016 red Toyota Tacoma was missing. Even more worrying was that Buddy the dog was in the truck when it was taken, WRPD said.

Buddy, who is microchipped, was described as a male, neutered pit bull, Rottweiler mix with black and brown coloring, along with "white sox" on his paws.

On Thursday night, the Denver Police Department (DPD) spotted the stolen pickup, and the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) arrested a suspect. Buddy was reunited with his family, WRPD said.

ACSO identified the suspect as Gregory Salas, 29. He was taken into custody in Arapahoe County on suspicion of first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft.

DPD said its officers were patrolling about 7:15 p.m. Thursday when they recognized the stolen vehicle and found Buddy alive and well. Because the gas station where the truck was stopped, at 7273 E. Evans Ave., was just over the county line in Arapahoe County, it was ACSO deputies who made the arrest.

Credit: Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office
Gregory Salas

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Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867 or visit metrodenvercrimestoppers.com. Tipsters can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000. 

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From there, an awards committee reviews the information provided and, if the information leads to an arrest, the tipster will be notified. Rewards can be collected using the code numbers received when the tip was originally submitted. 

More information about Metro Denver Crime Stoppers can be found here. 

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